Hello world! I have a random issue that has been stumping my class since it began: the doorknob is warm. No other doorknob there is warm. There are a few other knobs in the room and they aren't warm, so I don't think it has to do with the heat difference. They aren't just a little warm, they are significantly warmer than other doorknobs. I'm in a room full of engineers and none of us have any idea why they're so warm!

When I make my lunch, I do it the night before because I don't have the time or energy in the morning. But I have a dilemma, my food is never warm by lunch time! I need a simple and compact way to keep my food warm that will fit into my lunch box.

We have 12v batteries to support our solar power. our problem is keeping them warm when we are not at home. does anyone have any suggestions? we are often gone for work for 3 - 5 weeks, so we can't do wood or waste oil, and days without sun wont help our batteries. this year it is very cold, night time wind chills below -10

Hello,I am building a multi-touch surface using the FTIR method and after the surface is powered for about 10 minutes there is a heated smell in the room, I have noticed that the resistors are very warm and that a couple have started to brown or burn. I really need this table to be able to be safely powered at least 18 hours a day.Here are my specs:LED's:I am using 88 Infrared LED's (T 1 3/4 INFRARED LED, http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/category/340250/LEDs/Infrared/1.html )--8 LED's per series--forward voltage of 1.5v --forward current of 100mAResistors:I am using 2, 10 ohm 1/4 watt resistors parallel (so 5 ohms) with each of the 11 series'Power Supply:The power supply output's 12 volts DC and 1.2 ampsWhen I calculate using http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz it says I only need 1ohm 1/4 watt resistors, I haven't tried this yet but it doesn't seem to me that this would rectify the situation. My guess was that I need 1 watt resistors, but the calculator didn't seem to agree.Any thoughts as to what my problem is? is it safe to go with 1 ohm 1/4 watt resistors? or do I need 1 watt resistors? Any help would be very appreciated, thank you!

Recently i went to take pictures in the middle of the night at Subfreezing temperatures and the front of my lens formed ice. so i need to keep the lens warm, there are many solutions but the one i thought would be fun to use is the use of a heating element. I found resistance heating wire, i would like to make an object that could fit around my lens and keep it warm. to prevent overheating i will use a microcontroller with temperature sensors to cut of the supply of electricity at a certain temperature. i just want to keep the lens at more than 5 degrees centigrade. I think my 12v lead acid battery will be enough for this kind of project. My question is how to do it, how much heating wire should i use? how much heat will it make? what wire should i use? Will it work? Any other ideas are welcome.

I may be off on a tangent to reality, but I wonder if there are any statistics available on the effect of all the Tonnage Oxygen plants around the world sucking in all the oxygen, separating the various gases & storing them in pressurised liquid form. I did a quick search today and 2 countries alone were 'manufacturing' (sucking in our air, separating the elements and producing) 26,000 tonnes of approximately 99% pure oxygen per day! To the crux of my question: Is this action (carried out on a worldwide scale and potentially growing) upsetting the balance of our atmosphere - we are all informed by the press and by the scientists that global warming is (or may be) attributed to mankind burning fossil fuels and dumping the excess carbons into the atmosphere. I just view this as the flip side of the argument........ has anyone ever considered the tonnage of oxygen drawn in from the atmosphere by these plants which is sold-on essentially as bottled gas or piped to be used for oxidising other materials (blast furnaces, basic oxygen steel-making, scrap cutting etc), could be having an equal or bigger impact on our atmosphere and global warming than the straight burning of fossil fuels by power stations and automobiles etc? Just 'throwing the idea out there' (Liquid oxygen when spilt and viewed as a puddle, appears blue like the sky, the deeper the oxygen puddle, the more vivid the blue became ..... reminded me of when I was a kid the sky looked a lot bluer than it does these days).

(I slightly changed the instructable into a forum topic and an instructable)The Instructable Half"Global Warming" Experiment #1:As you can tell by my quotes around "Global Warming", I personally don't believe that this theory is happening. Theres facts I can use to prove this. However, even I believe that no matter how you put it, there's going to be some bias. Also facts are boring :PSo, what I have planned, is to do a series of experiments on what global warming might cause if it were real.I'm doing this because I've heard people claim some extraordinary things, which based on data won't happen.I could post an instructable with a bunch of facts, and I might. But for now, I want to set up a couple collaborative experiments. One reason I want collaboration is I'm biased. The other, is so you can't complain about my methods.I haven't done the experiment yet, I really don't know if this will help, or hurt, my case.The experiment is to determine if "global warming" could melt glaciers, thus cooling the ocean. Notice here I'm assuming global warming is happening. It isn't. But when people make claims on the news and stuff, they are assuming that too.Please comment if you would like to change my methodology, OR you want to do the experiment.I'm going to describe how the Instructable (and hopefully the rest in the series) will work.1) I, or anyone, proposes a framework for an experiments and writes up an Instructable. (Will be referred to as "I" in the following steps)2) I monitor the suggestions, editing and fixing as needed. After about a week or so, I go onto step 3.3) I preform the experiment to the best of my ability, and write up an additional 2 steps.3a) The first outlines my changes. This could mean I didn't have a 4x8 loaf pan, and I had to use a 3x8. Or it was plastic. Whatever. These small details are important3b) The second outlines the data and conclusion. This may have images of the experiment, graphs, tables, sensor data, Whatever. I also make a note of my previous bias.4) Wait for more people to run through the experiment, adding them as collaborators.5) Write up a conclusion to everything, OR do some more investigating.Its not that bad, however the whole process might take a few weeks. (I don't know)Scientific MethodThere are seven steps to the Scientific Method, which we will follow:1. Define the question2. Gather information and resources3. Form hypothesis4. Perform experiment and collect data5. Analyze data6. Interpret data and draw conclusions that serve as a starting point for new hypotheses7. Publish results(Thanks Wikipedia!)#1 was done in the introduction.#2 I've already done, however you only have to look into data you'll need during the procedure.#3 I've done it, but I'm not telling you (I don't want a bias, even though I've hinted towards my guess)#4 - We're going to expand this out. More later!#5 and #6 sort of come together in this format, will be done as we go along.#7 is done as we go!Okay, #4. Remember back to High School, remember Lab Reports? Well basically there will be a step for each segments (leaving some out). We sort of do this already in most instructables "What will happen", "What you need", "How you do it"; this time more formally. Due to Lab Reports being unstandardized, I'm breaking it down into:IntroductionMaterialsProcedureDataIts shorter than your average one, due to the fact in Data, you have hypothesis and stuff I don't want to reveal yet ;-)The following is the framework, you can also see my instructable:(This is a framework, remember. Its not supposed to be "done" and perfect)Materials*Large basin of some sorts.*Water*Ice*Lamp + Light bulbs (100W & 40W)*ThermometerProcedure1) Fill large basin/pan with water.2) Take and record standing temperature of water.3) Add ice off to one side of the pan.4) Take temp. of water every five minutes until it starts to level out, at least 4 readings.5) Replace water, and repeat steps 2&36) Shine lamp w/ 40W bulb off to the non-ice side of the pan, but allowing some light & warmth to reach the ice. (Roughly 20-35%)7) Repeat steps 4&58) Repeat step 6 with a 100W bulbTake pictures throughout!What now?Okay, I'll be updating this with your comments over the next week or so. If somethings wrong with it, POINT IT OUT!!! I'm going to add my thoughts in as well. (I still feel its missing some things, I can't put my fingers on them, though!)

UK Broadcasting watchdog OfCom has ruled that the Channel 4 documentary The Great Global Warming Swindle broke broadcasting rules by implying that GW was not due to human activity.The film's key contentions were that the increase in atmospheric temperatures observed since the 1970s was not primarily caused by emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, and that the modern focus on climate change is based in politics rather than science. It is seen in some "climate sceptic" circles as a counter to Al Gore's movie An Inconvenient Truth, and credited with influencing public perception of climate science. It has reportedly been sold to 21 countries and distributed on DVD. GW experts featured in the documentary complained that they were quoted out of context, had not been told of the aims of the programme makers, and some quotes attributed to experts were, allegedly, made up by the reporters."It's very disappointing that Ofcom hasn't come up with a stronger statement about being misled," said Sir John Houghton, a former head of the UK Met Office and chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scientific assessment. "I know hundreds of people, literally hundreds, who were misled by it - they saw it, it was a well-produced programme and they imagined it had some truth behind it, so they were misled and it seems Ofcom didn't care about that," he told BBC News."The programme has been let off the hook on a highly questionable technicality," said Bob Ward, former head of media at the Royal Society, who played a prominent role in co-ordinating objections to the film. "The ruling noted that Channel 4 had admitted errors in the graphs and data used in the programme, yet decided that this did not cause harm or offence to the audience." Plaintiffs accused the programme of containing myriad factual inaccuracies, but Ofcom says it was "impractical and inappropriate for it to examine in detail all of the multifarious alleged examples... set out in the complaints." On another issue - whether contributors to the programme had been treated fairly - Ofcom mainly found against Channel 4 and the film's producer WagTV. Former UK chief scientific adviser Sir David King had been misquoted and had not been given a chance to put his case, the regulator said. Ofcom also found in favour of Carl Wunsch, an oceanographer interviewed for the programme, who said he had been invited to take part in a programme that would "discuss in a balanced way the complicated elements of understanding of climate change", but which turned out to be "an out-and-out propaganda piece, in which there is not even a gesture toward balance". The film alleged that the IPCC's scientific reports were driven by politics rather than science, and Ofcom ruled the organisation had not been given adequate time to respond. Full BBC article, plus links

Now that Thanksgiving is over and winter is on it's way, I have been brainstorming ways to stay warm around Instructables HQ. One solution that I am considering is to make one of those toasty Compubody Socks that I was fortunate enough to try on a few months ago. However, thanks to the effectiveness of this cozy privacy shield, I can no longer tell whether or not I enjoyed this experience. Perhaps you can help me to remember by adding your caption below?The best caption will be picked Monday and the author will win a sweet tape measure from DIY Network who is hosting a Cool Tools Holiday Blitz that runs from tomorrow (11/27) to Sunday (11/30). They will also win a virtual caption contest patch!Limit of 3 entries per person.The winner will be selected on Monday (12/1)UPDATE: And the winner is...The Internet is a series of tubes... Apply Directly To The Head - T3h Muffinator

Planning on sewing something together to stay warm this winter? Then get ready for our upcoming Sew Warm Contest with SINGER. We will have some excellent prizes from SINGER to give away to any excellent project that helps you fight the cold this winter. All we ask is that you involve sewing in some way.
So get your sewing machine and needles ready! More details coming soon.
As with all our contests, entries must be published during the contest. Previously published Instructables are not eligible.
UPDATE:
Contest is live and can be seen here

1) We are put carbon into the air by burning fossil fuels. What are fossil fuels? Plants that were buried eons ago. How can we reverse the trend? By burying plant matter, thus sequestering CO2 from the air. Fortunately, there is a convenient way to do so. Put lawn waste and paper in a landfill. Paper is mostly made from tree farm trees. They'll replant to grow more. New trees absorb CO2 from air. a) Bury paper. Don't recycle it. b) Bury lawn waste, don't mulch or compost. 2) Since people do burn stuff to keep warm, travel, and do stuff in general, is there a way to do this without as much effect on climate? Yes. Global COOLing happens when particulates (smoke) reflect some sunlight. So the laudable efforts to produce cleaner emissions from cars, powerplants, etc, also prevents the effect of global cooling. Ironic that a filthy smoke belching 1800s smokestack which lead to respiratory problems, etc, would also put out particulates that block some sunlight. a) make smoke, not clean exhaust. I welcome responses whether you agree or disagree. To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure if I agree myself ! Just putting it out there.

Jan 22, 2009 Sign-up for this newsletter: function openSubscribePopUp(src){ var emailValidate = /\w{1,}[@][\w\-]{1,}([.]([\w\-]{1,})){1,3}$/ if(emailValidate.test(src.value) == false){ alert("Please enter correct email"); return; } window.open("/newsletter/newslettersignup?email=" + src.value,"newslettersignup1","status=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=420,height=250"); } Welcome back! It's cold up here in the northern areas and we want you to show us some great ways to fight the chill in the Stay Warm Contest. Win a sleeping bag!Reuse and recycle! Show off a clever and useful modification for a plastic bottle in the Tap'dNY Keep the Bottle Contest and win a Voltaic solar-charging backpack!The Craftsman Workshop of the Future Contest Round 3 finalists are up! See the 15 entries that have been sent on to Craftsman for final judging! Bottle Butterflies! by shortone Make Signs out of Cardboard! by Creativeman The Bytelight by Kipkay The Lazy Man's Pancake by mightysinetheta View the final 15! Win a Voltaic solar-charging backpack! Dominoes Table by crowdsourced Dye Your Hair a Strange Color by ladyada Make Your Own Bread by pmetro Water Bottle Bazooka by jeff-o Survey: HelpInstructables Survive this Economy! Stay Warm with the Heiny Heater! by jambhack Safety Alarm Clock by dylan2106 Upside Down Hanging Planters by DebH57 Sleep Warm Anywhere by Mother Natures Son Share your best way to fight the cold and win a sleeping bag! Make a new wallet in any colorduct tape you can find Easy DIY Home Automation by Stuart.Mcfarlan Easy Forced-Perspective Wall Art by jjijj Solar Pumped Hydroponic System by Tool Using Animal Copper Fire Log Heater by nepheron Now go make something awesome, and I'll see you next week! - Eric Sign-up for this newsletter: function openSubscribePopUp(src){ var emailValidate = /\w{1,}[@][\w\-]{1,}([.]([\w\-]{1,})){1,3}$/ if(emailValidate.test(src.value) == false){ alert("Please enter correct email"); return; } window.open("/newsletter/newslettersignup?email=" + src.value,"newslettersignup2","status=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=420,height=250"); }

This may have been asked in a different format if so please accept my apologies. I have bought some cheap Tilly/Storm lamps that would normally be filled with parafin and have the materail wick lighted to achieve the glow of the lamp. I would like to replace the liquid based light with a set of warm white leds. I've also bought a small round adhesive/stick on plastic light unit to try and understand how they work. Having opened it think this will suit my needs in the Tilley lamp. Pressure downwards on the top surface of the light unit switches the LEDS on and pressure released switches them off. The power for this light unit is from 3 x AAA batteries. I would like to either make my own 3 LED light unit from parts but what items do i need and where do I get them from or understand how to replace the bright white LEDS in the light unit I've bought for warm white ones but how do I do this? I believe that the length of the two stalks comming out of an LED indicates + and - but is the longer one +? Also when it comes to the small triangular shaped circuit board on the original how do I tell the + from the -? Any help will be very much appreciated as these Tilley Lamps/Storm Lights would look good in the garden at night as well as inside. Many thanks, Bernard

I've entered several contests including winning one a few years ago - the valentines day contest with my soapy beating love heart! (aparently the system for flagging it as a winner won't because I won before the system was implemented! nevermind!) I was very suprised that my first prize was shipped all the way from the US to me in the UK. I'd not won a competition before that and was very happy to have done so from so far away as well. I didn't realise the rules had changed and the new 'sew warm' competition is US and Canada only. My wife has decided to make her own instructable for the sew warm competition - the prize was a big motivator in getting her to post. She's not done it yet but will probably over this weekend. She's completed her project on a 100 year old Singer sewing machine! Just the sort of thing I would have thought singer might be interested in! If she was ever-so-lucky enough to win, I'd be happy to sort out the customs etc as I would any purchase from abroad!

I need help wining a bet my dad was talking about Korea and he said i wouldn’t last he said it’s like going outside when its 20 out and wetting yourself with a hose so me being me i said i could so im gonna wait till its 20 out and wet myself and spend that day outside. What can i do to stay warm and make it the 8 hours???

We keep a kind of chilly house in winter . Sweaters and sweatshirts are expected, except for company. In our area, we heat and cook with natural gas and that is cheaper than electricity. But the cheapest heat is residual from cooking . So a kettle is always on for tea whenever wished. And most nights we bake potatoes unless the daughter bakes brownies or something. And, in addition to that we will stick bricks in the oven. Come bedtime, the bricks get wrapped up in towels and put in the bed. where toes can cling to the brick and other toes. Best strategy for bricks is to bake them at 175 for a couple of hours. Please spare the obvious comments, but please make other homey suggestions.

I got this email when I entered the sew warm contest: Hi Hello Kitty, This is to confirm that your entry 'Warm Rice Bag' for the 'Sew Warm Contest' has been received and will be reviewed. The contest closes on Mar 6, 2010. 12:00 AM. Thank you for submitting your Instructable to the Cocktails vs. Mocktails Contest. The contest is moderated, and so your entry is waiting to be reviewed. This process can take up to 48 hours. If after 48 hours or so your project has still not been accepted, then it did not meet all of the requirements for participation in the contest. You will then need to make the appropriate changes to your project so that it meets the contest requirements and re-submit it to the contest. Requirements: - Entry must be a recipe for a drink - Entry must be a full Instructable with steps and original pictures - If the entry is a mocktail, the title needs to end with "Mocktail" Thanks again for entry and good luck in the competition! Good luck, Instructables Robot

Hi, My dear little cat takes great pleasure in warming her butt on our warm air vents. I was wondering if someone could help me design/build a little sensor that I could place on each warm air vent. It would need to look inconspicuous and keep the cat away from the vent (vibrate or buzz when she approaches? - dunno, you suggest). Thanks! G

According to Treehugger, a warmer climate is leading to shortages in hops and barley. If all of it keeps going in the same direction, beer will be getting more expensive to make and nobody wants that. Link

The growing number of jellyfish in the oceans has scientists worried, as they say it is an indication of how badly the ocean is being treated. They are showing up in places where they have never been seen before, and this is being attributed to a number of causes, including global warming and overfishing of the jellie's natural predators. LinkyI can personally attest to this one. I went to the beach and got stung by these little nasties. There must have been thousands and thousands of them swimming around. When they sting you, it HURTS. I had whip marks on my arms and legs for hours. Stupid jellyfish...

The Stay Warm Contest is requesting our warmest solutions to make it through the rather rough winter we've been having. In particular, they want to see our favorite low energy solutions.
Therefore, may we post instructables about warming up the climate in an attempt to stay warm?
Thanks,
Purduecer
p.s.
(Since I know in advance that some of you won't appreciate the humor, you should know that this post is done in jest. You have been warned.)

I recently had a disability ramp built for the entrance to my home. It is made of pressure treated lumber and deck boards. I am putting down rolled roofing to help with slipping. I would like to make it so that it could keep it warm to prevent snow and ice build up. I was thinking of doing a solar water heater to feed piping underneath the ramp, but not sure if this is the best way to go. I also considered purchasing some sort of heat tape to go under the rolled roofing. What does the community think?

So I have just built (mostly) a workshop shed, and it's about time to move in work benches, tables, small appliances, etc. I want to be able to move some temperature sensitive stuff out, too, and I don't want them to get too cold. I'm probably over thinking this and there's a simpler solution, but a refrigerator is already a well sealed, temperature controlled, shelf. If I could get a second hand or scratch and dent, could the condenser be put on the inside to make a "warm box" for winter?

A friend of mine today firmly told me that there's no global warming and we should all stop trying to struggle improve efficiency (and then as an afterthought added "especially with policies, and liberalness and the such). It was a dumb inconsiderate reply but non the less, I snapped at him. I told him that we should just let ourselves cut down all the trees and pollute our atmosphere so much that marathon running would become a dangerous sport. He looked at me sheepishly and said something to the effect of well you shoulden't worry so much and Al Gore is a nutcase. Typical conservative catholic response. The point of telling you this story was to encourage you to say what you think in the comments section, and to inspire you to create ways to make us (the race of polluters) better.
So go on, debate it up!

I live in (near) Windsor, Ontario, Canada. As we all know its January.
I took these pictures of my back yard today at 151pm on January 7th 2008. the temperature outside is 69 degrees ferinhiet or 20.5 degrees celsius the same temperature as Phoniex, Arizona.
this is pretty weird, Eh?

I have a debate coming up in religion class on global warming. Would anyone like to try and convince me that global warming is NOT real?
Any help would be appreciated. (Plus: I always love demolishing someone's argument with my Hammer of Peer-Reviewed Articles). :P

am brand new to electric and electronics, i know very little. the motor (gemini gate motor) tested on a bench with a drill produces 8.10 volt. so what i need to do now is step up the volts to 13 or 14v so i can charge batteries, then build a small inverter to step it all up so i can power a geyser for warm water.
in my naive state i tried to measure the amparage through the motor and s i connected it into the circuit it produced 3.5 amps
so what i think i have is a 8.10v motor (peak rpm) with 3.5 amps which i have to make power a warm water geyser.

My friend told me about a new book by David Mackay. I've added screenshots of two of the really nice graphs he put together in his book. Says my friend:Forwarded Message:David Mackay, Cambridge U Physics Professor and a flat-out rockstar inthe field of statistical inference, has written a book on SustainableEnergy, which he is (as usual) giving away for free on his website. http://www.withouthotair.com/There's also a few slide decks for the overview: http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/mackay/and a blog: http://withouthotair.blogspot.com/I'm not much through it yet, but the gist seems to be putting realnumbers on the size of the energy problem, much as Saul Griffith hasbeen doing. It's written in his usual style, which is to say it readslike common sense you feel you should have known all along.

Hi all, I need to build a box about 75cm wide, 50cm tall, 50 cm deep, that will maintain a temperature range of 20-30 degrees C (about 68-86 F) in ambient temperatures of 0-35 C (32-95 F). What are my best options for heating and cooling? For temperature regulation I imagine I'll be using an aquarium thermostat for the heating end of things. What would be best for cooling? I am imagining a plywood frame with a plastic tray insert, covered with styrofoam sheets. Pretty simple stuff. It will probably hinge open on the front face. I'll be keeping fermenting and sprouting foods in it. thanks for any help and ideas! -bs

I have an old hair dryer and I know that there is something inside it which heats up the air. I was wondering, is it possible to remove that and attack a battery pack and case and have a pocket warmer or would it not work? Thank you.

After literally hours, I can not locate small quantities of warm white led's with what is sometimes described as "filament white" color temperature. Most warm white LED's are a much cooler 3000K. Any suggestions? Ideally a 3 or 5mm discrete LED. Images of warm white led's are unreliable. A color temperature description is necessary. Anyone? Thanks! I received a sample of these, but their color temperature is actually much closer to 3000K. http://www.ledtronics.com/Products/ProductsDetails.aspx?WP=1922 2017 UPDATE: 2200K (and warmer) LED's are finally becoming more commonplace in bulbs, LED tape, etc... so I'm keeping my eye out for more component and project LED's to also include this warmer range.

It has a new cylinder, piston and rings, installed properly. autobystarter works fine, reed valve is clean, has all new gaskets. I am mixing the fuel instead of putting it in separatly, to avoid burnign up the engine if the oil injector wears out. What do i do? i am monetarily invested up to its value!